I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra.

"Stop laughing!"

Toph continued to roar loudly with laughter. She had overdone it to the point where she literally fell off the chair. Toph picked herself up, tears fresh in her eyes.

Waiting impatiently, Zuko spoke once more. "So will you do it?

Toph wiped the tears and finally returned to her raw, blunt attitude. "I'm sorry, but you are going to have to try harder than that, your highness."

The firelord groaned in utter frustration. He cleared his throat and asked, "Will you attend the formalities ceremony with me tommorow?"

"No."

"Wh-what?!" Zuko's eyebrows furrowed.

Toph crossed her legs. At twenty years old, even she couldn't fight her feminine ways. "I am not and will not ever be attracted to you."

"May I remind you I have a girlfriend?"

She scoffed. "From what Katara told me, Mai doesn't agree. What did you do hot head? Did you burn her feet too?"

Zuko closed his eyes. "Will you let that go already? That was an accident."

"You know me better than that."

Zuko crossed his arms. "You know, for your information, she is on vacation on Ember Island with Ty Lee."

"Why is she there and not here to be your date?"

Zuko stood up from behind his desk and walked over to Toph. She didn't move a muscle.

"Come on, you've been to these formality balls before. They only allow those of royal stature."

The earthbender just grunted at the twenty five year old leader. "Of course. But I've never been to one with multiple other families from multiple other nations. There is one held at Ba Sing Se every year for the earth kingdom. I had gone to the ceremonies every year since I was born."

After the war, the Beifongs finally reconciled. They weren't exactly one big happy family, but they were talking at least. Toph's parents were even the ones to fund for the metalbending school.

His hands behind his back, Zuko spoke formally. "As did I up until I was banished. This will be my first year back and-"

"Woah, hold the monkey feathers. You haven't gone to a formality ceremony in eight or more year? Even after the war?"

"The fire nation was in shambles. Loyalists here, supporters there. Definetely not the right conditions to set a party in."

"Well then." Toph paused and pondered on her thoughts. However, she quickly remembered the first thing they had been talking about. "Wait a minute, why can't Mai go again? She is practically your firelady."

"That's just it. She isn't yet. Sure her father is a political figure, but that isn't royalty."

"Which was why she was upset, correct?" Zuko nodded. Toph's eyebrows furrowed. "Which also means that Aang, Katara and Sokka aren't going."

Zuko nodded once more.

"That's stupid. They should be considered royalty as they are honorary war heros. And Aang is the avatar!"

"The formality ceremonies were established for family dynasties only. I'd fight it if I could, but I don't think that would be good for my first year back."

"Royalty?" Toph scoffed. "Last time I checked, my family isn't royalty or a dynasty."

"From my records, yes you are."

A beat of sweat formed on her face. A rare sight in such a calm environment. "You're crazy, fireface."

Zuko had been staring at Toph closely. "You're lying."

"You can't prove it." she said defensively.

In front of her face, she heard the sound of paper. "Since I'm hosting it this year, I got a list of all those attending."

Toph gulped.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Princess Toph Beifong?"

A low growl came from her throat. Fearfully, she threw her hands up in the air. "Ok, ok ok! I'm a princess! Big whoop!"

"Good to know I wasn't the only royalty on Team Avatar."

The earthbender's body language shifted. She seemed more open. "Gaoling wasn't always just a town. It was the twin capital of Ba Sing Se. We had lords and ladies. Princes and princesses.

Zuko leaned against his desk. "What happened?"

"The only thing that could tear a city apart: war. We were rendered to almost nothing until my great great grandfather successfully defeated the enemy. He was an earthbender. Afterwards, my family still maintained its riches and that's when we became the primary funding for almost everthing in the earth kingdom, other than Ba Sing Se."

"And your family hasn't run out of money?"

Toph cocked her head to the side. "When I said everything, it included the economy in the earth kingdom."

"Interesting."

"Anyways," Toph started. "What were we talking about again?"

"The formalities ceremony."

"Right." She didn't speak back, worrying Zuko.

"What? No snarky comeback about me being a bad date? No insult saying you wouldn't date me even if we were the last two people in the world? No chuckle at my desperation?"

She crossed her legs once again. "I've been thinking about it. It has some perks."

"Such as?" He raised an eyebrow at his friend.

"For starters, I always go to this thing with my parents. Every single year, I was attached at their hip like a pet. Just last year, they started hinting at suitors." She gagged.

"Your point?"

"If I went with the prissy little firelord, that will definitely tell my parents to buzz off."

Zuko glared at her. "I am not prissy."

"Sure." Toph continued. "And I'd rather go with someone I know."

The firelord suddenly questioned her. "Have you ever gone with company to these things before?"

She stayed silent. May it be her embarrassment or laziness, she didn't know. Toph wasn't one to be "in love." She hasn't exactly dated anyone yet and even if it were for a ball, such as this, that wouldn't have counted. "That would be a no."

"Have you ever gone on a date?"

Toph came back with her usual attitude, irked by the sudden curiosity. "What is my love life to you, anyways?"

Zuko had flinched at the attack. "Just curious is all."

"Well, keep it to yourself."

The firelord smirked. "I don't know, Toph. The greatest earthbender in the world has never had a boyfriend? That's just too good to keep to myself."

"Hey! I never said I never had a boyfriend!" She pointed a finger at the now snarky firelord.

"Have you?"

Her finger slowly made its way back down to her lap. Zuko knew it was defeat. It was the perfect opportunity to blackmail her, as bad as it sounds.

"That's what I thought. Now, there will only be one thing that will keep my mouth shut. I'm sure you know what it is. So what will it be, Toph?"

Toph scowled at him. She groaned several times in annoyance. Of course she knew what he was talking about. If she said no, Zuko would make her look pathetic. If she said yes...

"What am I going to wear?" The answer came through gritted teeth.

Zuko just smiled. "Great to hear you can't wait to go. You'll be wearing a red dress and robes to match my attire."

"I hope your proud of yourself. You sounded exactly like your sister."

Surprisingly, the twenty five year old took no offense. "Trust me, it scares me too."

"This better be worth my time."

"Don't worry. I'll be your perfect first date, Princess Toph."

The rock had just barely touched the top of his head as he dodged the seething princesses attack.

"Princess?!"

"Don't call me that. I'm the CHIEF OF POLICE."

Sokka grabbed Toph by the shoulder and talked directly at her face. "Princess?!"

"Chief. Of. Police."

The rest of the group just had their mouths open, other than Zuko and Lin.

Kya spoke next. "Wait, so what does that make Lin?"

The young Beifong's eyes widened. "What?"

"A princess. Technically speaking." the firelord answered.

"But I thought Toph was the princess?" Katara asked in confusion. In the background, Toph once again reminded them of her chief title.

Zuko turned towards Toph. "Let me guess, you didn't tell Lin, did you?"

"What? Tell me what?"

Toph shrugged. "I thought it wasn't necessary."

"Tell me what?"

"Toph, I'm certain that this is pretty important considering that all the money is going to her."

"What money? Tell me what?"

The aged chief sighed. "Fine." The group leaned in to hear the information exactly. "About five years ago, I inherited almost all the money my parents made. And no, they didn't pass yet which is why I said almost."

"And that means...?" Sokka asked.

"It means that I also inherited the throne, to put it in technical terms. I'm Lady Beifong now."

"Which is why I'm princess now. I see." Lin nodded her head.

"What? I'm married to a queen?!"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Snoozles. I'm chief of police only!"

"But you just said-"

"I only use that title for one thing, alright?"

"And that would be?"

Toph cleared her throat. "When I go to the formality ceremonies. Duh."

Sokka gasped. "What?! When do you go to those? How come I didn't know about this? How come I never got to go? Did Lin ever get to go? Does she get all the money? Where is the money? Can I use some of the-"

"Sokka, can you shut up!" his sister yelled. "I want to hear the rest of the story!"

The water tribe warrior stayed silent for once.

Toph started once more. "Anyways, back to what I was saying..."

I decided to make this side story a couple chapters. Not too long though.